MEMBER FOR GREY LYNN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15649, 1 July 1914, Page 10

MEMBER FOR GREY LYNN

SPEECH BY MR. J. PAYNE.

QUESTIONS ABOUT PLEDGES.

CONSIDERABLE INTERRUPTION.

The representative of Grey Lynn in Parlia ment, Mr. John Payne, addressed a meeting of about 500 electors in the Richmond Hall, Grey Lynn, last evening. Mr. K. McDonald was chairman, and made 3 special appeal to the audience to giro tho speaker at least a reasonable measure of fair play." The speaker was fibjected to a good deal oi interruption. In:' a section of the audience was obviously composed of supporters r.f Mr. Payne.

Mr. Payne was cordially received, and proceeded at ence to refer to the political position which existed just before and after the time that th" Massey Government took office. Mr. Payne referred to the statement that the support* r< n : Mr. Murray (the Massey party's - nd'date) liad voted for him in the second '>.Vf.nr ; because they believed he had promised to support Mr. Massey.

Voices : So yen did

Mr. Payne: '"Wait a bit." Hr pro. ceeded to quote newspaper paragraph? to show that Mr. Murray's supp-.-.rU-r? mado no stipulation that he should purport >::. Massev. This aroused a storm of pruti •* " Mr. Murray challenged you to m<-«-t 1 :m

on the platform, and you would not tare him." shouted one man.

"I did promise Mr. Massey," proceeded/ the speaker, "that I would support him on a no-confidence motion.'' Voices: Oh!

Mr. Payne: " Never mind '-oh in;.' I had an interview with Mr. Masse", and I asked him what he was pom..' .0 d" for ! Labour. He told me Unit Labour void bo treated be'.ter than eve- before. 1 went to Wellington, and I found that Mr. Mas*? was not speaking the truth bef. r • 1 had been in the House a week—(groat uproar) and when I found that the M issey party was tho same old Ton - Party, I considered that I had a perfect rmht to withdraw my promise." (Lntcrru'ition.) Not Afraid of Criticism. Mr. Payne said he was not afraid of criticism, and would not give up his seat if 99 per cent, of Grey Lynn electors asked him to do so. All his life, he said, he had been building up a character for industry and integrity. This statement aroused some interruption, and Mr. Piyne became heated "I have tome scoffers here to-nigh'.-," he remarked. "1 can give vou facts, but I cannot give you brains." He then named a num>-r ,f prominent business men who, he said, would speak favourably of his private character

Mr. Payne said he had never been asked by the present Opposition Party for his vote, and then proceeded to make numerous charges against the present Government. Among other thins? he declared that the night the Masse- party defeated the Mackenzie Government., a piece of paper was placed in Mr. Thomas Mackenzie's lu.nds telling him he as to be Hizh Commissioner.

Lady's Voice : " You will get it next time" (Loud laughter.)

Mr. Payne: Now, I want to come down-

Voice : You will come down all right. (Interruption.) Mr. Payne : Yes—to address yon hero as your newly-elected representative. (Laughter and applause.)

! In an endeavour to show what he con I sidered to be undesirableness of the preI sent Government, and the people who supported it-, Mr. Payne proceeded to give i an imitation of the " Devonport a-co-nt " 'and the '"Pemuera smile," hut the cf.ic: vas eome-rhat marred by a gentleman ... the audience recommending Mr. Payne to join '• Tho Forty Thieves " Company, and thereby arousing a storm of laughter The Government Attacked. Mr. Payne then went on with little interruption, to bitterly criticise the Government, and eulogise "the greatest financier and politician in 'he House," Sr Joseph Ward. Lady's Voice : What about the " gingerbread aristocracy" now? Mr. Payne: I despise the gingerbread & aristocracy as much as ever I did, and it you aire one of themM despise you as much as ever. Interrupt'on.) From this point. Mr. Payne we it on to criticise the legislation, present policy,and general administration of the Govt; : m».nti He described himself as a Social Of <rocrat: he Was in favour of 'he bare majority on) the liquor question, but he was opposed,! personally, to prohibition: he wou.'d vote! for the referendum on the Bible in schools ! question, but he regretted that there was la likelihood of the "voters losing sight of important political issues in fighting among themselves over this religious question. In concluding his address, Mr. Payne dealt with the recent strike, and with 'tho alleged creation of monopolies in New Zealand. He said he was prepared to answer questions.

Several Questions Asked. " I would like to ask what has become of scheme 45." said a youth ii the back of the hall, amid/.t laughter. •' Scheme 45 has practically been adopted by the Social Democrat Party, of which I n'ould like to make you a member," replied Mr. Payne. "Are you going to be the nominee oi any political party!" was the next qm.sj lion. " I shall stand as a Social Democrat during the next election," said Mr. Payne! "Mr. Payne saki that certain members who did not observe their election pledges, and supported Mr. Massey, were bribed and bought; but, explaining why ho did not keep his own pledge, ha claimed that lie had the liberty to change his mind 'if his judgment to dictated. How does ho reconcile the t-,vr str?tc menls ?" was a question put by Mr Holdsworth. Mr. Payne made a long statement, reflecting upon several members of Parliament, but did not refer to lis own position. Mr. Payne was reminded that two and a-half years ago he promised that i' he was elected every working man could e.v pect another 50s per week. "I haven't got my share yet. so you owe me ov-; £150" said the questioner. Mr Payee said the questioner was "a parasite and an exploiter who lived on working men." and entered into an argument in which he said that when all worker;' supported the ideal State, and brought em* 45 into operation, they could look for extra remuneration totalling more than 30s weekly. Motion and Amendment. Mr. Mortimer, after a brief andress, in which he condemned "twisters." moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Payne. This was seconded by a gentleman '" made a statement that failed to find favour i with the meeting, and lie was "howled down." Another person present seconded. Two young men came ''nrward and moved a vote of thanks onh.

The voting appeared to bo phmit t and the chairman declared the motion carried.

The meeting, which was remark alio »«•" a very large amount of laughter, broke up a few minutes before eleven o':I«ck.